Time and Again

“Are you coming tonight?”

           “I have my favorite outfit ready. You remember.”

Mr. Gabel smiles, still brushing his teeth. He is anxious to see his daughter, Genny, and her brother, Bill, who works at The Time and Again Home for the Aged where three days earlier he was a participant in an age-reducing procedure that was still in its experimental stage. Bill’s boss, Robert Artly, conducted the experiment.

           “How could I forget? And I’m sure it’s in as good a condition as it was when you first wore it."

           “Of course.”

           “You’ll be perfect. We’ll be there as close to eight as we can.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“So, Dada. How are you feeling today?”

           “I’m great. That procedure is wonderful. Well worth the million dollars I paid for it.”

           “I’m so glad. No bad side effects?”

           “Not so far. Like I told you yesterday, I’m amazed at how simple and painless it was. I was in and out in thirty minutes.”

           “And, you really feel as good as you did fifteen years ago?”

           “I do. So, is Bill driving tonight? It’ll be great to see your brother. It’s been months. I need to thank him again for bringing me into his business.”

           “Yes.”

           “Fantastic. Can’t wait to see you both, Kemo sabe.”

           Genny laughs and says, “Love you, Dada.”

           “Love you, too, Honey.” Gabel hangs up and returns to the bathroom.

The Time and Again Home for the Aged looks like a typical nursing home. Everything is white, It is a polished white, glaring under bright fluorescent light. Three days earlier, Gabel, eighty years old and a multi-millionaire, sat in the waiting room wearing jeans and a golf shirt. He waits to be called into the office. A man in an Armani suit enters through the office door.

         “Mr. Gabel,” the man says, “It’s a pleasure, or let me say, an honor to meet you.”

        The men shake hands.

        “Come into my office and we’ll go over your assessment.”

        Gabel says, “Sure, Mr. Artly. Nice to meet you, as well.”

        They enter Mr. Artly’s office.

     “This will be a simple procedure, Mr. Gabel. It won’t take long. You’ll be out of here in no time and by the time we get you home, you’ll start to feel the effects. You may feel a little dizzy at first, but after that, you’ll begin to feel better and before tomorrow you’ll feel fifteen years younger.”

        “Will there be any other side effects?”

        “There shouldn’t be. None of the others who have had the procedure have reported any. We’ll be in touch with you throughout the day tomorrow and the next day. If you’re feeling okay, we won’t need to bother you any further. Of course, if you need us, you can call us anytime, twenty-four seven.”

        “Will you be doing it in a lab or a hospital room?”

        Artly laughs a little, saying, “Oh, no-no-no. It will all be done right here in this room. We’ll start in just a couple of minutes. Now, roll up your sleeves.”

           He goes to his desk and, from the bottom drawer, pulls out what looks like a large opened suitcase with multi-colored cables hanging out around it. Attached to the bottom is what looks like a giant translucent plastic petroleum jelly jar filled with jiggling limeade. After placing this weird-looking contraption on the coffee table, he unbuttons Gabel’s shirt, rolls up his pants legs, and attaches electrodes to his forehead, chest, and legs.

࿌࿌࿌࿌࿌

           At eight ‘o’clock Gabel’s doorbell rings. His son and daughter rush in, closing the door.

           “Why aren’t you guys in costume?” Gabel says.

           “Dad,” Bill says, “there’s no time for the party. There’s something going on at the home. All hell is about to break loose. The Feds are coming to close the place, and everyone upstairs is on the run. I need to get down there to my office and meet with two agents that are investigating. You should go, too, to tell them about your experience.”

           “But, I was just a client.”

           “You were more than a client. All of you were an experiment that is going to end very badly if we don’t stop it. Get ready and come with us.”

           “I was waiting for my entrance while we had a drink.”

           “There’s no time for that. You get ready and we’ll go.”

           Bill turns to Genny and says, “Go start the car. We need to go.”

           Genny fumbles in her purse and hurries to the car, not looking up.

           Without having seen him leave the room, they are surprised to see the elder Gabel appear in a Lone Ranger’s costume, Sea Blue like the original, and fitting very tight. He looks into the living room mirror and adjusts his black mask.

           Genny and Bill together say, “Dad?”

           “Let’s go, Sheriff Bill. I’ll follow your lead,” Gabel says.

           “Oh, God. Let’s go,” says Bill as they run to his car.

           At his building, Bill unlocks the door of the home. Behind him, his father and daughter, and three Federal agents follow him to the elevator. In his office, the agents gather around Bill as he turns on his computer.

           “Someone’s coming,” Genny says.

           They all look up and see Artly coming to the door and enter.

           “What’s going on here?” asks Artly.

           One of the agents says, “We’re shutting you down, Artly. The whole business.”

“We’ll see about that. Who are you people?”

“We’re with the Federal Government,” Mr. Artly, “The DAI. And we’re . . .”

As the agent explains the situation, Gabel adjusts his mask again and reaches for a cigar from a box on Bill’s desk. He pulls out his Zippo lighter, lights the cigar, then throws the lighter onto the cheap polyester curtains that cover the large windows. The room bursts into flames. They rush out of the room.

An elderly woman is behind them. She twists around, and facing the opposite end of the corridor, she screams, “Fire!” She is the cleaning woman, the only other person in the building.

           Bill sweeps her up into his arms and says, “The service elevator.”

           Bill says, “When that fire reaches the floor above it, it’s all over. Run!”

           They all make it to their separate cars. They can feel the explosion. The agents hear the older Gabel say as he closes the back door of Bill’s car, “Hi-yo, Silver. Away!”